• CLUB SOCIAL EVENT: Mark your calendar for our next club social, which will be held on Thursday, September 29, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the University Club. The per-person cost will be $10, which will include beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres. RSVP and send checks to Paula Tiernan, 709 Boulder Dr., Columbia, MO 65201 (make checks payable to Paula). Club members who belong to the University Club may pay through their University Club account -- just let Paula know that's what you want to do. Club members are invited to make an evening of it by having dinner at the University Club after the social. For that evening only, club members who are not University Club members may enjoy dinner there but will need to pay with a credit card or cash. To make reservations, call Emily at 882-2586 and tell her you're with Rotary.
  

• MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY FUNDRAISER: Our District Governor is urging Rotarians to volunteer to support the 3000+ cyclists who will participate in the Gateway Chapter-National Multiple Sclerosis Society's 21st Annual National City MS 150 Bike Tour based at the Midway Expo Center on the weekend of September 9-11. Volunteer jobs available include: Registration, staffing rest stops, bike checks, communications, parking, serving meals, handling supplies, and finish line activities. For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, contact Emily Jokerst at 314-446-4182 or emily.jokerst@gatewayms150.org. Information also is available at www.gatewayms150.org.
  

• Glen Heggie read a note from our new exchange student, Vero. She is settling into her school but sounds a bit lonely. Be sure to ask how she’s doing! We still need a second host family, so see Glen if you are able to help.
  

• BOARD CANDIDATES: The Nominating Committee has nominated the following six club members as candidates for three Board of Directors positions to be filled in the Club Election on September 29: Lex Akers, Jim Elliott, Glen Heggie, Darlene Johnson, Jim Ollar and Al Tacker. Biographical sketches of the candidates will be circulated at club meetings in September.
  

• ROTARY INTERNATIONAL OFFICIAL DIRECTORY
  Club members who want a copy of the new 2005-2006 Rotary International Official Directory should place orders with Club Secretary Steve Scott. The directory is available in book format, CD format, or both. The book costs $9, the CD also costs $9, and a book-CD combo costs $15. Give checks payable to "Columbia Rotary Club" to Steve Scott. The order will be placed in early September.
  

• FUND RAISER:  The club is now actively selling sterling silver bracelets with a pawprint charm as a fundraiser. 20% of the profits go to the local community and 80% to projects in Mexico.  Check out the flyer for additional details, or see Janice, Darlene or Phil.

HISTORYMOMENT

ANNUAL ROTARY THEMES

In 1955, RI President A.Z. Baker announced a theme, "Develop Our Resources," to serve as Rotary's program of emphasis. Since that time, each president has issued a theme for his Rotary year. The shortest theme was in 1961-62 when Joseph Abey selected "Act." Other one-word themes were chosen in 1958-59 by Charles Tennent ("Serve") and 1968-69 by Kiyoshi Togasaki ("Participate").

Carl Miller, in 1963-64, had a theme for the times when he proposed "Guidelines for Rotary in the Space Age." Other "timely" themes were in 1980-81 when Rolf Klärich created "Take Time to Serve" and William Carter in 1973-74 used "Time for Action." Two themes have a similarity to commercial advertising: "A Better World Through Rotary" (Richard Evans, 1966-67) and "Reach Out" (Clem Renouf, 1978- 79). Bridges have been a striking metaphor. Harold Thomas, 1959-60, urged Rotarians to "Build Bridges of Friendship"; William Walk, 1970- 71, created "Bridge the Gap"; and Hiroji Mukasa, 1982-83, declared "Mankind is One-Build Bridges of Friendship Throughout the World."

A worldwide focus was given by Stan McCaffrey in 1981-82 with the message, "World Understanding and Peace Through Rotary," and again in 1984-85 by Carlos Canseco who urged Rotarians to "Discover a New World of Service." In other years, the individual was emphasized, as "You Are Rotary" (Edd McLaughlin, 1960-61), "Goodwill Begins With You" (Ernst Breitholtz, 1971-72) and "You Are the Key" (Ed Cadman, 1985- 86). Frequently the theme urges Rotarians to become more involved in their club, such as "Share Rotary-Serve People" (Bill Skelton, 1983- 84) or "Make Your Rotary Membership Effective" (Luther Hodges, 1967- 68). But whether you "Review and Renew," "Take a New Look," "Let Service Light the Way" or "Dignify the Human Being," it is clear that the RI president provides Rotarians with an important annual program of emphasis. In 1986-87, President M.A.T. Caparas selected the inspiring message that "Rotary Brings Hope."

Charles Keller in 1987-88 saw "Rotarians-United in Service, Dedicated to Peace," while Royce Abbey asked his fellow members in 1988-89 to "Put Life into Rotary-Your Life." Hugh Archer (1989-90) urged us to "Enjoy Rotary!" and Paulo Costa (1990-91) asked that we "Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm." My predecessor Raja Saboo (1991-92) exhorted every Rotarian to "Look Beyond Yourself." In 1992- 93, I reminded Rotarians, "Real Happiness Is Helping Others," and in 1993-94, Bob Barth counseled Rotarians, "Believe In What You Do and Do What You Believe In." In 1994-95, Bill Huntley encouraged Rotarians to "Be A Friend" to their communities.

ABCs of Rotary" by Cliff Dotchterman - reprinted with permission).
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Jerry Murrell introduced Dr. Ali Hassam. Ali grew up in Baghdad and was smuggled to the United Arab Emirates at the age of 21. Saddam Hussein sentenced him to death in absentia. He is from a former ruling family and many of his relatives now hold government positions, are doctors and engineers and other professionals.

Dr. Hassam’s brother just returned from Baghdad two weeks ago and tells an entirely different story than we read in the media. Under Saddam there was no hope. There were many villages destroyed, killings, mass graves and other atrocities. His government used fundamentalism to protect themselves so the terrorist networks have been there a long time.

Now there is a tremendous amount of tourism in both the North and South of Iraq. The removal of Saddam allows an opening for democracy to develop. There are difficult circumstances to overcome but now there is hope. They can even speak freely to their families on the phone.

RE: Islam and Terrorism. To Dr. Hassam, Islam means peace. The Koran says that taking one innocent life is like killing all the lives ever created. Different interpretations bring different sects but power is the real issue.

RE: Ethnicities. The difference between the Shias and Sunnis are like Catholic vs. Baptist. They believe most of the same things with about 10% difference. The Kurds could have their country or not as long as they are prosperous. The Kurds were massacred because they resisted Saddam.

RE: Infrastructure: The terrorists are targeting water and electrical systems but power failures have always been a problem, especially in the very hot summers. There is still a tremendous security problem, but the media is not focusing on the progress as well. Iraq now has widespread internet access and media that was never allowed under Saddam.

Many of the insurgents are not Iraqi and operate in safe areas in Western Iraq where no one will identify them. In the North and South they get caught but people in the West of the country are still afraid and therefore not free to speak against the terrorists.

Dr. Hassam feels that the constitution needs to pass, even with the existing points of debate. The governments to follow are likely to be more moderate and a solid democracy has a chance to evolve.

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If interested, please e-mail Tony St Romaine, or see Kristen Smarr, Jane Phillips or Paige Scott for additional details.
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 Web Editor:  Tony St Romaine

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